Holidays, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Holidays, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Introduction

Throughout my experience as an Adventist, during my theological studies, and during my pastoral work, I have received questions about holidays, birthday celebrations, thanksgiving, and Christmas. Some assured me that none of these celebrations should be practiced because they do not come from pagan sources and traditions, others told me that some practices could be practiced and others could not, and some had doubts about specific points such as whether or not you can give gifts on birthdays and Christmas, also if the right one to have or assemble a tree for Christmas. Faced with these questions, I present below a brief analysis of Ellen White’s orientations in her writings.

Holidays

Regarding the holidays that each country has, Elen White indicates the following "I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children"[1] In this first appointment, you can see two important points. On the one hand, do not celebrate holidays the way the world celebrates them. “The world has many holidays, and men become engrossed with games, with horse races, with gambling, smoking, and drunkenness” [2] On the other hand, Ellen White indicates that holidays do not have to be ignored because they can bring dissatisfaction. Therefore, these days could be celebrated under the biblical principle, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God1” (Cor 10:31). This means that we do activities that first do not go against the commandments or biblical principles and second may this day be fruitful.

Birthday

Regarding birthdays Ellen White indicates the following “Under the Jewish economy on the birth of children an offering was made to God, Now we see parents taking special pains to present gifts to their children upon their birthdays; they make this an occasion of honoring the child, as though honor were due to the human being”[3]. In this paragraph you can see the Biblical Principle is that honor and all glory must be to God and not to the human being “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready” (revelation 9:7). Furthermore, “On birthday occasions the children should be taught that they have reason for gratitude to God for His loving-kindness in preserving their lives for another year”.[4]

Thanksgiving

Regarding to this day Ellen White indicates the following “Our Thanksgivingsmay be made seasons of great profit to our own souls as well as to others if we improve this opportunity to remember the poor among us”[5]. Moreover, she says, “Think what widow, what orphan, what poor family you can relieve, not in a way to make a great parade about the matter, but be as a channel through which the Lord’s substance shall flow as a blessing to His poor”[6]. “Make an offering to your best Friend; acknowledge His bounties; show your gratitude for His favors; bring a thank offering to God.… Brethren and sisters, eat a plain dinner on Thanksgiving Day, and with the money you would spend in extras with which to indulge the appetite, make a thank offering to God”[7]. In these three short quotes it can be seen that this day should be a day of blessing for those most in need, to remember friends, to have a simple dinner.

Christmas

Christmas is a day where families come together to exchange gifts and have a nice dinner, it is also a day to remember the birth of Jesus. "But yet there is no certainty that we are keeping the veritable day of our Saviour's birth. History gives us no certain assurance of this. The Bible does not give us the precise time" this day was not revealed by God to avoid idolatry. However, this day should not be ignored”[8].

Regarding gifts, Ellen White indicates, “It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our best friend. We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver”. [9] She indicates that gifts should be necessary things and not vain things. In addition, one should avoid wasting money “By the world the holidays are spent in frivolity and extravagance, gluttony and display…”[10].

Regarding the trees, Ellen White says, “God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship” [11], “Let not the parents take the position that an evergreen placed in the church for the amusement of the Sabbath school scholars is a sin, for it may be made a great blessing.[12]

Regarding the activities that could be done that day, Ellen White states, “Will you not arise, my Christian brethren and sisters, and gird yourselves for duty in the fear of God, so arranging this matter that it shall not be dry and uninteresting, but full of innocent enjoyment that shall bear the signet of Heaven?[13].

Regarding the information on holidays, Christmas, birthdays, thanksgiving, and Christmas, we have the following information.

Activities

Things to avoid

Tips to follow

Biblical Principles

Holidays

Worldly pleasures and amusements, gambling, tobacco, drunkenness.

Do activities that are helpful under biblical principles.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Co 10:31)

Birthday

Avoid giving honor and glory to the human being

Teaching Children to Thank God for Life

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come (Revelation 9:7)

Thanksgiving

Worldly pleasures and amusements, gambling, tobacco, drunkenness.

Attend to those in need, remember friends. Dinner a simple dinner. Offering of gratitude to God.

And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 27:39)

Christmas

Avoid wasting money on extravagance, gluttony, drunkenness, and unhealthy amusements.

Offerings of gratitude to God,

Give away profitable gifts, provide innocent fun for that day.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Co 10:31)

Conclusion

According to the writings of Ellen White, there is no paragraph stating that the days of Christmas, birthdays, and thanksgiving should be ignored. Ellen White presents guidance based on biblical principles for things that should be avoided and shows how those days should be for a Christian through practical advice so that any Christian can apply it in his life.

[1] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 472. [2] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 475–476. [3] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 473. [4] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 473. [5] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 474. [6] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 474–475. [7] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 475. [8] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 477. [9] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 479. [10] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 480. [11] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 482. [12] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 482. [13] Ellen Gould White, The Adventist Home (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 483.